New wing for custom chair
30th September 2024
Rosemary’s MS left her with an uncomfortable seated position in her usual easy chair. She was provided with a specialised, motorised tilt-in-space chair that should have provided all the support she needed to sit up comfortably. However, the design relied on using a harness that she found so uncomfortable that she couldn’t wear it. The challenge was to modify the chair so that she gained the support she needed to correct her posture without using the harness.
Footplate Shields for Activity Chair
16th January 2024
The client tried using a Rifton Activity Chair, but he kept getting his foot trapped underneath the wheels. The company makes a footplate box, but it wasn’t suitable as it would have prevented the client from standing and transferring on and off the chair.
Working closely with the family and the Occupational Therapist, the author designed custom panelling that would create an enclosure around the footplate while still allowing the footplate to flip up and down, and the various ways the Rifton chair can be configured (recline, footplate height, seat length).
Brake Modification on Shower Commode Chair
16th October 2023
The client uses a T70 shower commode chair for toileting and showering. As he lives alone without careworker support, he needs to operate both brakes by lowering the left lever, which needs to be higher and longer than the original. In 2018, Remap made a similar modification to an identical commode, but the solution found then, albeit solid and durable, was based on a straight bar connecting the two brakes which was in the way of the client backing into his toilet seat. The client wanted to keep the old chair as a reliable backup but was interested in exploring a new solution for his new chair.
In addition, the armrests on the new chair were a bit too “sticky” and hard to remove.
Table extension and cup holder
13th October 2023
Fay has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. She would like to get close enough to her table to eat her food and drink her drink, but the table is too low for the wheelchair arms so her carer has to do all the work. What was needed was some sort of raised, table extension and a cup holder that could be positioned in the right place for her.
Wheelchair Trailer Attachment for Dogs and Shopping
24th April 2023
The client is a wheelchair user and has a dog that is recovering from surgery. She wishes to take him to the local park for exercise. She has a suitable carrier for the dog but no way of linking it to the wheelchair. She asked us to create something that would allow her to safely transport the dog and provide her with independence. She also recently acquired a new trailer and wanted a solution that could work with both trailers.
Sky Q Remote Easy Grip Replacement
29th January 2023
Sky TV is important to Chris, and he uses an old Sky Q Easy Grip remote control holder to help him. This consists of a plastic device with a large hand loop on the back that is attached to the rear battery compartment of the remote. The big advantage was the loop that kept the remote safely in his hand while he worked the buttons. Unfortunately the Easy Grip is subject to wear, breakage and sometime the material it is made of degrades and becomes sticky beyond use. He has had a few over the years but Sky no longer make them and he was really worried he may not be able to carry on watching. What was needed was some sort of replacement. Luckily Dave from the Harrogate and Ripon panel had already made something like it for a Sky Plus (https://www.makeability.org.uk/project/17969/sky-remote-grip/). But while the Sky Q remote looked similar to the Sky Plus the Easy Grip was clearly a different design altogether. Dave’s solution was not going to fit without some modification.
Here is the original Sky Q Easy Grip
Adaptive Sandals for Tricycle
24th April 2022
The challenge was to adapt the tricycle pedals so that the client’s feet could be strapped securely. The adaptive sandals ensure that the client’s feet stay in place when being pushed so gets the benefits of the movement, but they also enable him to push forward himself as his strength improves.
The client’s mother had tried strapping his feet to the pedals but it was impractical since the straps would eventually become loose or get entangled with the wheel. There was no commercially available solution on the market that they could find.
The DIY solution found on the web looked ideal because it was very adaptive and easily transferable to another tricycle. Also, the design allows for the foothold to be applied securely without tools and without damaging the tricycle.
Drawing aid pen holder
1st December 2020
The client is 20 months old and has arthrogryposis which causes him to have limited movement in his wrists, hands and fingers. His mum and OT wanted him to start holding a pen and drawing but this was not possible without help. His left arm was stronger than his right but there was significant rotation of his hand. Initially it appeared to be that this rotation was fairly constant but experience showed that it actually depended on what chair he was sitting in, and whether he was drawing from right to left or left to right. It was made all the more challenging as the consultations were all being conducted via Zoom. The initial attempt was to make a wrist and hand splint with a pen holder attached. This was very difficult to fit and didn’t hold the pen at the correct angle. A variety of other pen holding devices were tried, each strapped to his hand with alternative fixing mechanisms, angles of pen, and different shapes of guide plate to help him keep the pen in contact with the paper. None of the prototypes worked very well but they provided a learning curve from which to build.
Pommel mounted joystick
17th February 2020
The client has very limited movement and only in one arm. He is in a motorised Rea Azalea tilt in space wheelchair. The wheelchair is new to him and was designed to provide him with some independence. However he is unable to operate the joystick on the arm rest nor the one that Wheelchair Services fitted to a tray. The tray stopped him using his tablet so that had already been removed. He needed to have the joystick lower, out of the way of his tablet that he uses to communicate, and within reach of his limited movement. Wheelchair Services did not have a solution for this.
The pommel had to be set back to the correct position within reach by use of an adjustable s/steel bar. (the other solver device shown was part of another project for the client)
One-handed bed remote control
17th February 2020
The client has very limited movement and only in one arm. He sleeps in a tilting bed. During night during coughing fits he needs to raise the bed but he cannot reach the bed wired remote control panel. He wanted to have the remote control positioned so that he can operate it with the limited movement he has in his arm.
The assembly consists of a 3D custom printed bedside clamp, a microphone gooseneck, and a 3D custom printed clamp for the remote control
Treadmill child safety rails
6th February 2020
The young client had spinal surgery and now needs intensive physiotherapy for 2 years. To supplement his physiotherapy his parents have purchased a variety of equipment to help him exercise at home. The treadmill is adult-size and they had a number of safety concerns. The side rails were at his head height forcing him to reach up to use them making his position uncomfortable and unstable; his head was at the same height as the control panel which meant that if he tripped he could hurt himself; the lack of any barrier could allow him to step onto the stationary front edge of the treadmill body and cause him to trip. In addition during the extended period of physiotherapy he will grow in height so the installation needed to be height adjustable. (one photo shows the unpainted frame for clarity and one photo shows the finished, painted, frame in use
See alternative solution.
Balcony platform and ramp
17th June 2019
The client uses a four-wheeled walker. She lives in a first floor flat and used to enjoy sitting on the balcony before she became infirm and had to used the walker. There is a 50mm threshold on the inside of the door and a 150mm drop outside the door to the balcony. There is insufficient space between the door and the balcony railing to fit a ramp at a safe angle of slope.
Workshop stool back support
10th April 2019
The client had multiple injuries to his back and pelvis following a fall. After three years of recuperating he was planning to return to work as an auto locksmith that required him to sit for periods of time at the roadside. His injuries did not allow him to sit up straight. His OT identified a need for a workshop stool with back support but there were none commercially available.
Child’s wheelchair canopy and handle extension
4th March 2019
The client, a 5 year old boy, has Tuberous Sclerosis Complex and needed a canopy for his new wheelchair as he is vulnerable to facial tumours (from exposure to the sun.)
No suitable attachment is designed for his wheelchair. In addition he uses the chair in a reclined position which lowers the handles and makes it difficult / uncomfortable for he parents to push. He needed to be able to attach (and remove) a sun canopy and extend the wheelchair handles while not interfering with the back support, reclining triggers, and collapsing mechanism for transport / storage.
Wheelie bin lid opener
27th April 2014
Lawrence needed to lift the lid of his wheelie bin to dispose of domestic rubbish. His problem is that he cannot lift his arms much above elbow height and therefore could not open the lid fully.
A bracket was fitted with two small pulleys and screwed to the wall above the bin. A cord passing over the pulleys had a hook at one end which could link it to the bin lid, and a counterbalancing weight at the other end at elbow height. Lawrence no longer has to rely on helpers and told us ‘everyone loves my bin’.
Wheelchair tray for student
27th April 2014
Alec’s problem was that his arm would involuntarily fly up forcibly and endanger anyone who was standing nearby. As he was a student, with others invariably around, this was quite a problem.
A larger version of a standard chair tray was made that would allow his arm to be held down with Velcro straps that he can release with ease when necessary. In addition a handle was provided for him to hold, that is capable of swivelling to accommodate a laptop computer when required. The exact position of the arm restraint was determined by a physiotherapist.
Alec is now able to work without fear of hitting anyone and his fellow students are very grateful!
Knee-operated wheelchair joystick control
27th April 2014
The client cannot walk and is progressively losing the use of his hands. He has an electric wheelchair and was having difficulty using the joystick control.
It was found that the client can move his legs from side to side and forwards and backwards. He also has sufficient movement to control a joystick. A leg brace was made, suitably padded, with a link to the joystick and this proved sufficient for the client to control his wheelchair.
The client has now regained mobility in his wheelchair.
Variable angle bath lift
27th April 2014
Billy, aged 10, has severe cerebral palsy with no speech or sight and he cannot stand. He wriggled out from standard bath lifts but was too heavy for his mother to support.
A bathing platform was constructed, with each end capable of being raised or lowered independently by means of hand-operated winches with ratchets. This gives a variable angle of descent, together with a level position for drying and dressing.
Billy now enjoys being in the water and his mother can lift him more easily.
Toilet bench
27th April 2014
The client is a wheelchair user and was finding it difficult transferring to the toilet from his wheelchair partly because of a progressive lack of strength and partly because of the position of the toilet in the corner of the room.
A bench was constructed so as to provide a level transfer area to get to the toilet, and provided with a hole over the toilet. This worked well but the increase in height above the toilet did lead to the client wetting the floor. Fitting a side from a plastic bucket under the bench to form a deflector plate solved this problem. Incorporating the spout from the bucket into this deflector plate provided a professional finish!
The client can now get on and off the toilet more easily.
Tap reacher
26th April 2014
The client, who is short of stature and has very short arms, could not reach to operate the taps in her kitchen.
Levers were screwed into the tap handles and a ring braised on to the end of each lever. Onto a stick was attached a small brass lug which would fit into the ring on each lever. Using the stick, and placing the lug in the tap lever ring, the taps could be easily turned by pushing or pulling on the stick.
The client can now operate the kitchen taps. Previously she had been going upstairs to the bathroom (where she could reach the taps) whenever she needed water. Since she can only move about with the aid of crutches this was a very difficult operation.
Support for communication aid
25th April 2014
The client, a young person, is unable to speak and was being taught to use a communication aid. He needed to use this aid both in his wheelchair and his armchair but the manufacturer did not have any suitable means of fixing it within his limited reach.
A suitable platform to hold the device was made and suitable supports were made from electrical conduit that would fit both the wheelchair and armchair fixings.
The aid is now held in a position where he can be trained to use it.
Stair lift shelf
25th April 2014
The client has multiple sclerosis and she needs to use a stair lift to get to her bedroom upstairs. Her bathroom is downstairs and to avoid going downstairs during the night she uses a commode. She then has a problem of getting the ‘bucket’ downstairs – spillages are frequent, as it has become difficult to carry the bucket on the stair lift.
A shelf was constructed which hooks onto the arm to the stair lift. This enables the bucket to be carried easily. The shelf folds in half to enable the chair to be rotated through right angles, a move that is necessary at the top of the stairs.
Embarrassing spillages are now avoided and other items can be more easily carried.
Stair gate
25th April 2014
Saeed is a young man with a learning disability who was unable to use the stairs safely.
A door was made to prevent him getting to them, and was secured with a magnetic catch. The magnet which operated the catch was kept by his mother. When this was placed on the outside of the door opposite the catch it would release it and allow the door to be opened. When the door was closed, the catch would latch automatically.
Saeed is not keen on the gate! His mother, however, is much happier that he cannot get on to the stairs.
Special bed lever/grab rail
25th April 2014
The client, an elderly lady, was having extreme difficulty getting in and out of bed. Conventional “side” bed levers could not be fitted because it was a lifting bed and there was no standard equipment to help her pull herself up when she got out of bed.
A standard side bed lever was modified so that it could be attached firmly to the bed. A special adjustable handle was made which was attached to the foot of the bed and positioned in such a way that she could reach it to pull herself up and would not prevent her swinging her legs out of bed. In this position it also served as a hand rail for her once she was on her feet. The client can now get in and out of bed unaided.
